Polarized light display apparatus



35o-o4 SR Y 0,0 SEARCH @QU 0R ZJQQAEQE V v Lf/ Y March 26, 1957 J. R. GRAVES 2,786,292 ff A PoLAnIzsn LIGHT DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed June 1, 1951 IN VENTOH .AGENT United States Patent O POLARIZED LIGHT DISPLAY APPARATUS Joseph Ross Graves, San Pedro, Calif.

Application June 1, 1951, Serial No. 229,349

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-130) This invention relates to a method of, and means for, producing vari-colored displays, and more particularly to a kaleidoscopic device operative to produce a display consisting of a multiplicity of translucent pattern cornponents of changing colors and configurations, the present application being a continuation-in-part of my patent application for Polarized Light Display Apparatus, Serial No. 211,722, filed February 19, 1951.

While a device constructed in accordance with the disclosure of my prior application produces a very pleasing and eye-catching, intermittently changing, color display, I have determined that the display effect is improved considerably when the pattern is changed continuously at a faster rate and abruptly at more frequent intervals. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a display device of the character referred to embodying speed-increasing means by which the analyzer and polarizing discs are rotated relative to each other at a speed in excess of that employed in my prior device so as to produce a pattern which varies constantly in color at a comparatively fast rate. By this means, the desired result is attained without increasing the speed of the prime mover which, as in the prior device, is preferably an electric clock motor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display device of the type indicated in which the analyzer and polarizing discs are each rotated, either in the same or opposite directions, as distinguished from the prior device in which the analyzer disc remains stationary while the polarizing disc is rotated relative thereto. By the present arrangement, then, the rate at which the pattern changes in color is increased and, in the case where these elements are rotated in opposite directions, is doubled to produce a more attractive display, the pattern repeating faster than in my previous construction.

Experimentation has shown that the color display is further enhanced if the tumbler discs are actuated in synchronism but moved alternately in opposite directions prior to their tumbling action. By this action, the mechanical effect produced by the relatively rotating main discs is lessened and the overall color pattern at all times is greatly improved. It is therefore another object of this invention to provide means for accomplishing this desirable result.

A further object of the invention is to provide a display device of the class referred to which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture, and one which is highly ecient in performing its `intended function.

Further objects will appear from the following description and from the drawings, which are intended for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. l is a front view of my improved color display device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the mounting means for the various discs; and

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Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The theory upon which the present application is based is adequately discussed in my copending application referred to before, and reference is therefore made to said parent application for a more complete understanding of the principle involved.

Referring rst to Figs. 1 to 4, my improved device is embodied in a casing or housing 5 which is of box-like form and constructed from wood, plastic, metal, or other suitable material. The housing 5 has a front wall 6, preferably of transparent glass or plastic, a rear wall 7, and a partition wall 8, which serves as a support for an electric clock 10. Forwardly of the partition wall 8 is a sheet 11 of light-diffusing material, such as translucent glass. Arranged in the space between the glass 11 and the partition 8 is a plurality of small electric lamps 12 connected in an electric circuit having a suitable switch, not shown, for controlling energization of the lamps. The clock 10 has an inner vminute shaft 15, a tubular hour shaft 16 surrounding the shaft 15, and a larger tubular sweep-second shaft 17 surrounding both shafts, such an arrangement of shafts being standard in some clocks now in use. Spaced slightly rearwardly of the front glass wall 6 is a transparent dial 18, which is preferably made from plastic and which is provided with numerals 19 thereon. The hour and minute shafts 16 and 15 extend through the dial 18 and Carry the respective hour and minute hands 20 and 21, which register with the numerals 19 as the shafts are turned.

Freely rotatable on the sweep-second shaft 17 is a disc 2S of light-polarized material, such as transparent glass, this disc being hereinafter referred to as the analyzer element or analyzer disc. Spaced forwardly of the analyzer disc 25 and at the rearward side of the dial 18 is a disc 26 of light-polarizing material, such as glass or plastic, this disc being referred to hereinafter as the polarizer disc. The disc 26 is forced onto, or otherwise secured to, the forward end of the second shaft 17, to adapt it to rotate with said shaft.

Also freely rotatable on the second shaft 17, between the discs 25 and 26, are tumbler members or discs 27 and 28, these discs being made from non-birefringent material, such as glass or acrylic resin. As shown best in Fig. 3, each tumbler disc includes a sheet 33 of acrylic resin, and interposed between the sheet and the disc are pieces 33' of birefringent material, such as cellophane, the quantity, shape, and arrangement of the pieces being varied as desired, to produce a haphazard, irregular pattern. Each tumbler disc may have a central hole through which extends the threaded shank of a tubular bolt 34, the head of the bolt abutting the side of the disc. A nut 35 screwed onto the end of the bolt 34 and set up against the sheet 33 retains the parts of the tumbler in assembled relation. The bolts 34 serve as hubs for the tumblers, and their heads and nuts act as spacers for holding the tumblers in axially spaced relation.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the tumbler discs 27 and 28 are provided with weights 40 adjacent their peripheries, the tumblers also having radial proiections or tabs 41 disposed at different included angles with respect to the weights for the purpose which will presently be explained.

The polarizer disc 26, being connected to the sweepsecond shaft 17, is rotated therewith in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. The analyzer disc 25, on the other hand, is adapted to be rotated from the disc 26 in the opposite direction, by means of idler gears 44, which are rotatable on studs 45 fastened to the inner surface of the housing 5. The gears 44 mesh with the gear teeth 46 formed on the facing sides of the analyzer and polarizer discs. It is thus seen that when the polarizer disc 26 rotates, it acts through the idlers 44 to rotate the analyzer disc 25 in the opposite direction, that is, counterclockwise.

The polarizer disc 26 carries an operating pin 48 which, when the disc is rotating, is adapted to engage the projection 41 of the forward tumbler disc 26 to rotate the latter to a position where its weight 40 moves across top center to allow the tumbler to tumble downwardly in the vmanner of a pendulum. A similar operating pin 49 is carried by the analyzer disc 25 and is adapted to engage the projection of the tumbler disc 28 to tumble the latter in counterclockwise direction. The circumferential spacing of the projections of' the two tumbler discs may be so calculated that the disc 27 is first moved in clockwise direction, and the disc 28 is then moved in counterclockwise direction, this alternate tumbling of the discs 27 and 28 continuing in timed sequence as long as the clock motor is in operation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the instant invention, while being similar to that disclosed in my pending application, is operative to change the color pattern at more frequent intervals, this being made possible by rotating the analyzer and polarizer discs, which actuate the tumblers, in opposite directions. While the display device shown in Figs. l to 4 has only two tumbler discs 27 and 28, it will be apparent that any desired number of such discs may be employed with each actuating pin 48 and 49 operating two or more tumbler discs in succession.

While the display device has been disclosed as embodied in a preferred form of construction, by way of example, it will be obvious that modifications might be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. Consequently, I do not wish to be limited in this respect but desire to be afforded the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for producing display patterns of varying shape and color', comprising: a source of light; a lightpolarized analyzer element; a polarizer element spaced from said analyzer element; at least one sheet of birefringent material interposed between said elements and having a multiplicity of haphazardly arranged, coplanar and noncoplanar areas, light emanating from said source passing through said elements and said material and producing a kaleidoscopic arrangement of said areas of different hues and hue intensities observable through said polarizer element in a direction toward said light source; means for continuously moving said polarizer element in one direction; transmission means operatively connected between Cit a multiplicity of haphazardly arranged, coplanar and noncoplanar areas, light emanating from said source passing through said elements and said material and producing a kaleidoscopic arrangement of said areas of different hues and hue intensities observable through said polarizer element in a direction toward said light source; means for continuously moving said polarizer element in one direction; transmission means operatively connected between said polarizer element and said analyzer element for moving the latter in the opposite direction, in response to movement of said polarizer element; and means operative in response to movement of said polarizer element for moving said sheet.

3. A device for producing display patterns of varying shape and color, comprising: a source of light; a light-polarized analyzer element; a polarizer element spaced from said analyzer elemment; at least one sheet of birefringent material interposed between said elements and having a multiplicity of haphazardly arranged, coplanar and noncoplanar areas, light emanating from said source passing through said elements and said material and producing a kaleidoscopic arrangement of said areas of different hues and hue intensities observable through said polarizer element in a direction toward said light source; means for continuously moving said polarizer element in one direction; transmission means operatively connected between said polarizer element and said analyzer element for moving the latter in the opposite direction in response to movement of said polarizer element; and means operative in response to movement of said polarizer element for intermittently moving said sheet at varying speeds.

4. A device for producing display patterns of varying shape and color, comprising: a source of light; a lightpolarized analyzer element; a polarizer element spaced from said analyzer element; at least one sheet of birefringent material interposed between said elements and having a multiplicity of haphazardly arranged, coplanar l and non-coplanar areas, light emanating from said source passing through said elements and said material and producing a kaleidoscopic arrangement of said areas of different hues and hue intensities observable through said polarizer element in a direction toward said light source; means for continuously rotating said polarizer element in one direction; transmission means operatively connected between saidl polarizer element and said analyzer element for moving the latter in the opposite direction, said transmission means including gearing interposed between said elements and meshing with peripheral teeth on said elements; and interengaging means on one of said elements and said sheet for rotating the latter at varying speeds in response to continuous rotation of said polarizer element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 734,133 Porter July 21, 1903 738,281 Bell Sept. 8,- 1903 2,169,022 Chubb Aug. 8, 1939 2,393,968 Burchell Feb. 5, 1946 2,535,781 Burchell Dec. 26, 1950 

